PARLIAMENT

PC Bill will accommodate budget preparations

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when the Parliament met at 1 p.m. yesterday.

After the presentation of papers and oral questions the Parliament took up the second reading of the Provincial Councils (PC) (Amendment) Bill.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A L M Athaullah:

I present this Bill and now the Deputy Minister will join the debate and later I will make the reply speech.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake:

The Provincial Councils (Amendment) Bill is presented to amend the time period when the annual budget is presented. The budget has to be presented before September 30. But the financial statements by various institutions are submitted to the Provincial Councils in the mid of September.

A period of two weeks is not sufficient to prepare a budget. So that the governors and other officers requested to amend the time that the budget should be presented.

They have been making this request for a long period but we could not do it due to various reasons.

Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP):

I would like to know whether the Provincial Councils act will be gazetted.

Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena:

It is gazetted. You can get it.

Ranil Wickremesinghe:

Powers are centralized through this act. Now all powers are retained by the President.

Sarath Fonseka MP is deprived of attending the sessions. The President said in Polonnaruwa if a request is made he is ready to consider it.

As Opposition members, we regret the decision given to Sarath Fonseka MP. As the Opposition Leader I have made my request to the President in this regard.

Likewise I request the Speaker to make a similar request. I also request to protect powers and responsibilities of the Provincial Councils.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Deputy Minister Gamini Wijithamuni Zoysa:

The Opposition Leader made a good point. He accepted the fact that the taking care of Sarath Fonseka is a duty of our Ministry.

The Opposition has no agenda or policy of its own.

Ravi Karunanayaka (UNP):

Wijithamuni said Sarath Fonseka should yield pardon. But for what wrong?

Gamini Wijithamuni Zoysa:

It is for following wrong tender policies. We allowed him to contest for the Presidential Election. It is after that we charged complaints against him.

Deputy Speaker Priyankara Jayaratna takes the Chair.

The President with the powers rendered to him selected the Judges of the Court Marshal.

The UNP won’t get ruling powers for decades.

From this Provincial Council Act, we strengthen the powers of the Provincial Councils which were vague.

Mavai Senathiraja (TNA):

We point out that the governing of the Northern Province and the Eastern Province separately has made difficult to establish ethnic harmony.

Employees such as drivers, messengers and minor labourers who have been living in Trincomalee and areas around are transferred to the North.

They have been living in those areas for 20 years. Their families are settled down in these areas and some children sit for the O-L exam December. I request that all these 211 people should be allowed to stay where they are now.

Army camps have been established by taking lands of the area. If Provincial Councils have been given powers to take action regarding lands, we could do something.

Less powers are vested to the Provincial Councils and I suggest that powers should be divided.

Natural resources of the North have been exploited by various individuals. Illegal sand mining continues. Provincial Councils should be given powers to act against them.

Community Development and Livestock Deputy Minister H R Mithrapala:

When amendments to the Provincial Councils Act were presented, JVP members always objected to them.

It is the UNP that fuelled the Tamil issue. Those days J R Jayewardene was opposed by R Premadasa. Today Sajith Premadasa is trying to drive away Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The President has the duty to protect the behaviour of the Army, as the Commander in Chief of Defence.

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNP):

I request not to tarnish the images of former leaders of the country. Premadasa was a successful ruler of the country.

Today an important Act is presented, but practically these things do not happen. The President has said that Sarath Fonseka will not be freed unless a request is being made. Today the Opposition Leader has made the request.

P G Padmasiri (UPFA):

I thank the Government that facilities are made to solve several matters persisted in Provincial Councils.

According to the Act before, the amendment the budget is presented to the Provincial Councils in July. But the budget of the country is presented in November. There was a big gap between them. Therefore financial allocations were not done properly.

Today, from the Provincial Council Amendment Act, we have made provisions to present the Provincial Council budget parallel to the budget of the country. Therefore, this problem will not emerge once again.

Ajith P Kumara (DNA):

Today, the Provincial Councils have become useless and corrupt institutions.

They have been unable to give facilities to schools and hospitals of the region.

Chandrakumara Murugesu (UPFA): Funds allocated for the Provincial Councils are not sufficient to serve the people. The Northern Province where the war dragged for last 30 years should be provided more funds for the well-being of the people and development of the region. Salary arrears of public servants during the year should be settled.

The people who resettled depend on agriculture in the North.

Paddy stores which were destroyed should reconstructed and facilities should be provided for these farmers. A number of vacancies which are still prevailing should be fulfilled for the benefit of the people.

Joseph Michael Perera (UNP): Basic needs of the people are unable to be fulfilled due to lack of funds allocated to the Provincial Councils through the Central Government.

The education, health, and trade sectors are collapsed and conditions of the hospitals maintained by Provincial Councils are poor.

Around 80 percent of concreted roads are in dilapidated conditions. Authorities are taking commissions through these deals.

Hunais Farook (UPFA): Media freedom should be consolidated in the country. Rehabilitation work is going on rapidly in the North.

Infrastructure facilities are being promoted in the North and the East. The Government must prevent illegal activities in these areas. People are trying to get electricity connections illegally.

Social Services Minister Felix Perera: It is not the verdict given by the President to imprison Sarath Fonseka.

It is the verdict given by the Court Marshal and approved by the President. This is the punishment given by the Court Marshal according to the military rules.

Buddhika Pathirana (UNP):

Today we have reached a time that we have to redemarcate the Districts and the Provinces which were introduced to us by the British according to their needs.

Higher Education Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake:

I have experienced the difficulties of the previous situation in the Provincial Councils.

We protested against the introduction of Provincial Councils. But somehow it was established and we too contested.

Today it is a well established institution. Now we have to utilize that institution to serve the society.

Science and Research Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake:

This amendment is a timely one made to the Provincial Council Act. Ranil Wickremesinghe talked of the Fonseka’s issue.

The President only endorsed the judgment issued by a Court Martial. It is the law in the Army. The President endorsed it as the Commander of the Security of the Forces.

This Court Martial is not created for Fonseka. So far, 1,136 personnel were found guilty by Court Martials.

About 4,355 personnel are charged before Court Martials. Fonseka has also endorsed judgments issued by Court Martials that sentenced to death penalty.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

Ajith P Perera (UNP):

We as UNPers appreciate this amendment to the Provincial Council Act introduced to rectify the administrative flaws in the Provincial Councils. The UNP established the Provincial Councils to solve problems faced by the Tamil Community. Our opinion is that the objective of the Provincial Councils is fulfilled to a certain extent.

Victor Antony (SLFP):

I was a member in a Provincial Council for 17 years. These amendments were to be made long time ago.

We argued that Provincial Councils were a white elephant. Only 12 percent of the funds was used to development.

That is why this Government has taken measures to amend the Provincial Council Act.

Justice Deputy Minister Reginald Cooray:

This amendment is a small support given to the Provincial Council system. This system was buttered by in the North and in the South.

This system was introduced by the founders to fulfill a need of some others those days.

We accepted the Provincial Councils system as a solution to some problems in the country.

Some believe that since the war has ended, there is no need to carry forward the Provincial Council system. But I think it is now the time to strengthen Provincial Councils further to prevent such issues emerging once again.

Provincial Councils must be able to find solutions to the problems encountered by the people in their Province.

Their financial capacity is not enough and the intervention of the central Government is needed to strengthen the Provincial Councils.

Wasantha Aluvihare (UNP): With the Amendment presented today, more powers should be vested to the Provincial Councils. If the funds of the central Government are distributed among the Provincial Councils, problems can be solved. Pragmatic suggestions should be presented to the Chief Ministers’ Summit.

Sometimes, the ideas and suggestions of the Provincial Councils do not reach MPs.

The management of Provincial Councils have collapsed today. The central Government should look into these problems.

Janaka Wakkumbura (UPFA): The Provincial Councils can do an enormous work to the residents of the area.

Therefore, more you strengthen the Provincial Councils, the country will be further developed.

The President mentioned today that more money will be allocated to repair and improve the road systems in Provinces.

A mechanism should be introduced to make sure that enough money will be allocated to Pradeshiya Sabhas through Provincial Councils.

Provincial Councils retain the money that should be received by Pradeshiya Sabhas.

V S Radhakrishnan (UPFA): The Provincial Councils have a great role to play in day-to-day life of the people.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A L M Athaulla: I am happy today that former Chief Minister of Provincial Councils and former members of Provincial Councils spoke of this Amendment. Some UNP members talked without knowing the history of Provincial Councils. As the LTTEers asked to decentralize power then President J R Jayewardene introduced the Provincial Council system.

Only the North-East people asked for Provincial Councils. Why did they give Provincial Councils to the other Provinces?

Some members say the power given to the Provincial Councils is not enough. We have not reduced any power granted to the Provincial Councils by President J R Jayewardene.

Deputy Speaker Priyankara Jayaratne takes the Chair

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said that this Government cancelled the commission.

It is wrong. We haven’t cancelled any commission in the Provincial Councils and we haven’t cancelled any commission in the Central Government as well.

The Provincial Council (Amendment) Bill was passed.

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Teachers’ transfer policy to be activated

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene yesterday stated in Parliament that the teacher’s transfer policy will be activated by the next January without annomalies.

He said the Ministry has decided to transfer the teachers who are working more than eight years at a school. The Ministry will make the transfers on the need of teachers without affecting education and on the concent of the Provincial Councils. The Minister said so answering to a question raised by Hambantota District UNP Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa. Minister Gunawardene said the Government will recruit 3,000 teachers from those who passed out from the colleges of education. He said 554 graduates are being trained to teach for the Advanced Level in the English Medium. A competitive examination will be held on October 9 to recruit 3,174 teachers for aesthetic studies, he said.

He said although it seems that there is not a shortage of teachers as there is a proportionate of one teacher to 17 students there is a shortage of teachers to teach particular subjects. IR, SM and D M

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To answer oral questions:

Subject Minister, Deputy Minister should be present

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told in Parliament yesterday that it was the responsibility of the Ministers and the Deputy Ministers to be present in the House to answer the oral questions.

The Minister said he had informed the Ministers and Deputy Ministers to be present in the House to answer the oral questions fall under the purview of their Ministries. The Minister made these observations when UNP MP Sajith Premadasa stated that he wanted the answer to his oral questions from the relevant Minister or the Deputy Minister.

Sajith Premadasa raised an oral question to be answered by Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. The Chief Government Whip agreed to the request made by Sajith Premadasa to provide the answer in a week as the Minister or the Deputy Minister was not present. IR, SM and D M

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Govt to slash electricity tariff

The Government will reduce the price of electricity in due course, said Power and Energy Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekera in Parliament yesterday.

He said the Government is not in a position to reduce the prices at once. The Deputy Minister said the Government is discussing to reduce the price from time to time.

He made these observations in response to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake as to whether the Government would reduce the electricity bill.

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Sixty five power plants in last six years

During the period from December 2004 to April 2010, 65 power plants were commenced in the island, said Power and Energy Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara in Parliament yesterday.

He said 440.826 MW are expected to be added to the national grid. Two thermal power projects generating 300 MWs, 61 mini hydro power projects generating 129.826 MWs and two dendro power projects generating 11 MWs have been started during this period.

He was answering a question raised by UPFA MP Victor Anthony.

These power plants are located in Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kandy, Matara, Galle, Badulla, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kurunegala and Trincomalee districts. IR, SM and D M

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[At adjournment ]

Rs 2,800 m to provide lunch for schoolchildren

Irangika RANGE, Sadasen MARASINHE and Disna MUDALIGE

The Government will allocate Rs 2,800 million to provide the lunch for the school students in 2011 said Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene in Parliament yesterday.

He said the Finance Ministry has granted its approval for that purpose.

He made these observations in response to an adjournment motion moved by DNA MP Ajith Kumara suggesting to increase the allocation made to provide meals for school students.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene: Various Governments appointed after the independence took measures to convert the free education in to more meaningful one. Schoolchildren were given free books and uniforms.

Mid-day meals were introduced under the Mahinda Chinthana program. Mid-day meals were only provided for poor children early.

The allocation for providing meals for children was only Rs. 43 million in 2003. This amount has been increased to Rs 2,275 in 2010.

The World Bank came forward to provide mid-day meals for children studying from grade one to six.

It is necessary to give free meals for poor children. Nearly 7,000 schools across the country were provided free meals.

It is true that there were delays of making payments to Samurdhi recipients for the producing of meals.

We requested Rs. 2,800 million from the treasury to strengthen the Education sector in nest year. Providing free mid-day meals has given priority. Malnutrition among the children has gone down. That is why the World Bank has pledged to continue this relief.

Deputy Education Minister T.B.Ekanayake: We intend to provide children with nutritious foods including grams and green grams.

We will not recommend products made from wheat flour to the children. Indigenous products have been recommended to develop the minds of the children rather than providing meals imported by foreign counties.

Samurdhi families have undertaken the providing meals to children. The Government will increase the funds allocated to this. We are committed to provide nutritious meals for the children according to the request of their parents.

Ajith Kumara (DNA): I suggest that the allocation made to provide meals for school students should be increased.

Today, most of the students in the rural areas continue studies with many difficulties. They go to school even without having their breakfast. Some cannot afford for their uniforms.